A MAN arrested by detectives investigating the death of a Kevin Kearney, who was shot as he walked his dogs in north Belfast, has been released unconditionally

Mr Kearney (46), was found in a lake at Alexandra Park a day after the attack on October 8. The 33-year-old suspect had been detained yesterday morning for questioning.

Complaints about Northern Ireland health service rise

Complaints made about health and social care services in Northern Ireland to a health care watchdog have soared by 69%, research has revealed.

The latest figures released from the Northern Ireland Ombudsman highlighted "concerning failures" by the Trusts.

It showed a total of 484 written complaints were received between April 1, 2013 to September 30, 2013.

Earthquake strikes South Atlantic

A magnitude-7.0 earthquake has struck in the South Atlantic, south-west of the disputed Falkland Islands, the US Geological Survey said today.

The quake struck at 2.27am local time (0627 GMT), about 195 miles (314km) south-east of the Falklands' capital, Stanley, and 545 miles (877km) east of Ushuaia, Argentina. The depth was a shallow 6.2 miles (10km).

The Falklands are a British territory that is claimed by Argentina.

The USGS said the quake followed four others, which all measured more than 5.0, over a two-hour period leading up to the big quake. It says such quakes are uncommon in the region. Only 15 quakes of more than 5.0 had been measured in the region in the previous 40 years.

Death crash topless driver cleared

An American driver has been cleared of charges in a fatal crash after a court ruled she had faced "an unforseen emergency" when one of her passengers untied her bikini top.

Brittany Lahm, 24, took her hands off the wheel to cover up while returning from a day at the beach in New York. Back seat passenger Brandon Berman, 19, who undid the bikini, was killed when the car hit a road barrier.

The case has been running since 2008 but a Brooklyn appeal court has now upheld the finding of an earlier jury, which said Ms Lahm's bikini top problem constituted "a sudden and unforeseen emergency not of her own making."

Ms Lahm declined to comment. Her lawyer said the ruling could be appealed to the state's highest court.